Women used kid to steal shopper's wallet, phone at store

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for your help to identify two women who used kids to commit a felony, according to a news release from the Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.

Deputies said that two women, accompanied by five young children between the ages of 5-12, entered a Gymboree store in Fort Myers on Tuesday evening to go shopping. Before they left, they had taken another shopper's cellphone and wallet.

When they approached the checkout counter there was a crime opportunity awaiting them: Another woman, who was engaged in a conversation with one of the workers, had left her wallet and cellphone on the counter, according to the release.

After one of the kids swiped her wallet and phone, the troupe quickly exited the store.

Within an hour, the woman's credit cards, which had been left in the wallet, were used twice at Pier One Imports as well as the Foot Locker with charges totaling $600, according to the report.

According to witnesses, the woman clearly used the young kids to distract the woman in order to steal her wallet, deputies said.